{"id":12033,"date":"2026-05-02T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.valeriebarkowski.com\/?p=12033"},"modified":"2026-05-04T11:58:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T09:58:03","slug":"embracing-slow-travel-in-marrakech-more-than-a-choice-a-way-of-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.valeriebarkowski.com\/en\/embracing-slow-travel-in-marrakech-more-than-a-choice-a-way-of-living\/","title":{"rendered":"Embracing slow travel in Marrakech: more than a choice, a way of living."},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Slow travel in Marrakech: experiencing life differently<\/h2>\n

In a world where instantaneity has become the norm, choosing slow travel in Marrakech might seem like going against the flow. For me, it is neither a trend, nor a marketing tool, much less a way to get likes. Slow travel<\/strong> is my everyday way of life. It is a sincere, essential approach that I have always practiced, and that Marrakech<\/strong>, my adopted city for several decades, has helped me deepen. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u00a9Cilou<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Slow travel, or how to travel differently<\/h2>

Slow travel is, first and foremost, being present. Setting down your belongings. Breathing. Taking your time<\/strong>.
Forgetting absurd checklists and rushed itineraries to ‘do’ a city.
Unlike those who want to tick off 18 monuments in a weekend, this approach offers gradual immersion, a genuine encounter with the place. <\/p>

It all begins with a well-thought-out suitcase: light, practical, adapted to all situations. Then comes the choice of where to stay. For me, there can be no compromise on this level.
I never book on large platforms. My riad, Dar Kawa,<\/a> is not listed there. And that is not an oversight. It is a posture. I reject the model of mass tourism giants<\/strong>, even if they claim to sell 5-star dreams. I prefer direct, human contact, perhaps slower\u2026 but so much richer. <\/p>

A simple email exchange can already guide me towards a restaurant, an encounter, an atmosphere. Because a local and authentic hotel knows about the latest openings, the real good deals, the confidential places<\/strong>, and even what is happening in its own kitchen. (And believe me, at Dar Kawa, that is often where the most beautiful culinary experience takes place\u2026) <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u00a9Tania Panova<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Settling into the medina: experiencing Marrakech at your own pace<\/h2>

The beating heart of slow travel in Marrakech is the medina. A labyrinth of emotions, colors, scents. A space where getting lost is almost mandatory. And that is precisely the goal. <\/p>

Our guests sometimes dread the idea of getting ‘lost’. But here, you never truly get lost. You discover. You go with the flow<\/strong>. And you always end up finding your way back. The only rule to remember? Never follow false guides. They are numerous, insistent, but their itinerary is not yours. Refuse, politely, but firmly. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Observe, wander, taste: the essential pleasures of slow travel<\/h2>

In the morning, everything begins gently. A carefully prepared breakfast, a few sunbeams, an open notebook, a steaming tea or coffee\u2026 It is often there that my day takes shape. Or not. I can let myself be carried along, go out without a specific purpose, stumble upon a confidential gallery, an inspiring alley, an artisan at work. <\/p>

And of course: I eat. With curiosity, with high standards.
Being almost vegan, I am always looking for creative chefs<\/strong> who give this cuisine all the richness it deserves. And Marrakech, in recent years, has proven surprising in this regard. <\/p>

I also sometimes do not go out. To dine at home.
At Dar Kawa, it is often we who do not dare to offer our guests dinner on site, for fear of being perceived as too commercial. Yet\u2026 home-cooked food often surpasses what one finds in the city. And that is so true here. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u00a9Tania Panova<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Traveling without a plan is traveling better<\/h2>

Refusing the itinerary means refusing rigidity. Slow travel is observing, listening, feeling<\/strong>. It is walking without a map, without a goal. It is allowing places to reveal themselves to you, instead of chasing after them. <\/p>

No need for GPS, nor for reviews left on social platforms that are no longer consulted. (Let’s be frank: slow travel does not involve Google Maps, nor star ratings.)

The true luxury is stumbling upon an artisan, smelling warm bread, discovering a secret courtyard, tasting mint tea under an orange tree. (Yes, it’s a clich\u00e9. But sometimes, clich\u00e9s are spot on.) <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Nicole Manfron<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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And what if you came to Marrakech differently?<\/h2>

I have long dreamed of a trip to Calcutta. Without a suitcase. Without addresses. Without recommendations<\/strong>. Walking. Observing. Wandering. Having custom outfits made by the local tailor. Asking him where to eat, what to discover, which artisans to meet. Living in the moment, without luggage, without expectations. <\/p>

And yet, I can already approach this dream here, in Marrakech.
Just come as you are. Truly.
Let yourself be carried along. Seek what you need, a local market, a quiet place, an impromptu encounter.
And for the rest?
We, at Dar Kawa, are here for you. Always here, always at your pace. With kindness, slowness, and sincerity. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u00a9Emma Louise Sophia<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Why choose slow travel in Marrakech?<\/h2>

– An immersive experience far from standardized tourism
– Committed, local, creative gastronomy
– Spontaneous, inimitable discoveries
– A gentle, conscious journey
Want to try the experience?
Discover Marrakech in slow mode.
Take your time. Unpack your bags. And let the city come to you.

Book your stay at Dar Kawa, a place where slow travel truly makes sense.<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Slow travel in Marrakech: experiencing life differently In a world where instantaneity has become the norm, choosing slow travel in Marrakech might seem like going against the flow. For me, it is neither a trend, nor a marketing tool, much less a way to get likes. Slow travel is my everyday way of life. It …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7767,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[231],"tags":[387,385,388,386],"class_list":["post-12033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marrakech-whispers","tag-maison-dhotes","tag-riad-marrakech","tag-slow-travel","tag-unique-experience"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.valeriebarkowski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/slow-travel-terrace-marrakech-dar-kawa-tania-panova-photo.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.valeriebarkowski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12033","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.valeriebarkowski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.valeriebarkowski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.valeriebarkowski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.valeriebarkowski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12033"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.valeriebarkowski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12033\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13241,"href":"https:\/\/www.valeriebarkowski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12033\/revisions\/13241"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.valeriebarkowski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7767"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.valeriebarkowski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.valeriebarkowski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.valeriebarkowski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}